Cat Fans Flock To Rupp Arena For Celebration

LEXINGTON, Ky. - UK Wildcat fans showed no signs of slowing down Tuesday afternoon, as thousands welcomed home their NCAA champions with a sea of blue.

With cameras in hand and adrenaline still running high, fans packed Rupp Arena for a glimpse of Coach John Calipari and his national champions Tuesday afternoon. Cheers erupted as the team’s tour bus pulled into the arena and the players emerged, many capturing video of the crowd on their own cell phones.

"You people never cease to amaze me," said Coach John Calipari, who went on to highlight the contributions of every player and lowered a new banner in Rupp’s rafters. Kentucky governor Steve Beshear and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray were also on hand to welcome the Cats home. For fans, such as Earl Johnson, it was a defining moment.

"I've been watching UK basketball ever since '75 and this was the greatest thing I ever witnessed," he said.

Kentucky defeated the Kansas Jayhawks Monday night to take home their eighth NCAA championship title.